tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-52290179640731622222024-03-14T00:57:12.504-07:00HCC Haiti TeamChapter Two: Our team of 3 from Harvest Community Church will be leaving on the 23rd of May to return to Haiti continuing the work begun with All God's Children International and Gift of God Orphanage. Please pray for us leading up to our trip and while we are gone. We will post on our blog if you would like to be updated on what we are doing and how God is working.Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.comBlogger16125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-53950139003239204582012-05-27T19:08:00.000-07:002012-05-27T19:08:03.701-07:00Fighting Off SleepIt has been a very long day. Our day began after breakfast with a city tour of Port au Prince. We drove back down the road toward the airport and up into Petion Ville, one of the areas hardest hit by the earthquake of January, 2010. We all piled in the back of the truck for the ride, so the smells of traffic, dust and open sewers came at us all with unrelenting frequency. While we drove through the city towards the main section of the capital, we watched as many were leaving home to go to church in their finest clothes and looking resplendent. Walking past piles of garbage or riding on the back of a hired motorcycle, nothing was unpressed or unpolished, many in spotless white.
There are signs of improvement. Some of the pancaked houses and buildings have been cleared away, one of the presidential palace's domes has been removed, there are less tents in the parks around the palace. Much of this is mere window dressing. Many of the people who left the tent cities in that area were paid to leave. It is believed that many were given the equivalent of $300 to leave. Where they went was of no concern and nothing else was provided. The larger tent cities are showing more signs of emerging entrepreneurship and permanency as more people are opening small roadfront stands and selling items from the road and tarps are replaced with more corragated panels and cinder blocks.
We got back for lunch and then headed over to GOG to work on installing the waterlines for the kitchen sinks. We started to install some urinals in the boys bathroom, but as is usually the case in Haiti, nothing quite goes as planned. The parts on hand may not always work, or need to be reworked to fit. Progress was made and plans put in place to continue where we left off.
The afternoon was spent playing with kids and then church. The service was led by the kids, as usual. Jonas played guitar and led worship with many songs in Haitian and English. Kemsleye gave the sermon on Jonah 1. It was illustrated as God's provision in a time of need. Our God is faithful when we are in need and is able to protect His children under His wings. Nicky, I was blessed to hold Franz throughout the service.
We gave the kids some candy and some sunglasses after the service. The boys had made some origami flowers and some cards and a present for Mama Katia as today was Mother's Day in Haiti. They truly are sweet kids. We said our goodbyes and went back for dinner.
Paul and I asked if dinner would be Haitian or American. Smith said he would check and we were all pleased to learn that it would be Haitian. White rice with chicken and peas. Hot sauce for those who needed it.
We debriefed as a group, got prepared with info for the morning (light breakfast at 5:30 and out the gate at 6 am), sang a couple worhsip songs and left to pack and go to bed.
As for me...shower, pack, and sleep...in whatever order it comes.
We look forward to seeing our families late tomorrow and kissing our sleeping children when we get home.
Goodnight.
Todd.Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13418560654504587506noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-29466336097520306932012-05-26T22:01:00.001-07:002012-05-26T22:01:37.895-07:00Another awesome day in Haiti!<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;"></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">We
are having major problems posting to the blog, but email seems OK so
Debbie/Jessamine/Lisa/Nicki/Elise are posting for us via email.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Saturday, May 26
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Another awesome day in Haiti!
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">We got up a little early to see the
work happening at several of the FMI projects nearby. First we toured
the property where they are going to build small homes/apartments for
the kids as they age out of the Gift of God orphanage. It is a 1 acre
lot a short walk from where we are staying. There was a Haitian crew
there digging the hole for the septic tank (by hand of course – 12 feet
deep). So it was neat to see the 2<sup>nd</sup> day of construction on
that project. The kids will be able to rent one of the apartments as
long as they have a job or are in trade school or college. I think they
are going to call this site "Hope Village".
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Then we walked over to the site where
Brad Simpson & Todd worked in the mud on the plumbing in October.
There is a whole complex of buildings there now, which are nearly
complete. This project was originally going to be an orphanage and
medical clinic run by Mike's ministry (Global Orphan Hope), but just recently Mike's organization decided
that they were gifted in construction & development but not in
running an orphanage, so they donated it all to FMI. FMI will use it in a
similar way as they do the Gift of God orphanage. So FMI is raising
funds to finish the construction of the buildings (including removing
the medical office walls) and making plans for setting up an orphanage
there. Some of the buildings will be used to train the kids in sewing,
welding, woodworking, and other skills they will need to make a living
in Haiti.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">After breakfast we headed back up the
mountain, on some crazy streets with crazy traffic and everyone selling
things. The mountains are very steep so it takes some extremely skilful
driving to make it up the twisting, crisscrossing roads which are
frequently blocked by disabled vehicles, piles of building materials,
and hundreds of people walking along the edges of the road. The drivers
honk their horns every few seconds to communicate with other drivers and
pedestrians, and though chaotic and a little scary, I did not see any
accidents – but I am sure there are many. It is rare to see a vehicle
with no dents.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Once we arrived, Frank gathered us
together and had us walk around the rooms of the house, praying for the
children who would soon live there, the families who will adopt them,
the future nannies working there, the parents/relatives who gave up the
child, etc. We then grabbed our materials and blasted through all the
second coats and remaining unpainted items. We basically painted
everything in the house that was dark-colored – including about 125 feet
of decorative railing, the grates on about 12 windows, an interior
railing, about 5 doors, 3 closets, 6 beds & bunkbeds, some walls,
etc. We also removed, washed, and reinstalled all the glass louvers on
about 7 of the windows. The house looks dramatically different than when
we started.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">We wrapped up our work at 2PM and
headed still higher up the mountain to the orphanage that Rachel
currently runs. Rachel has about 10 children, ages 3 months to about 4
years. All of them have been adopted and are waiting for the paperwork
& process to be complete, except for Jasmin who was about 3. Jasmin
was brought to Rachel's home by her father 4 days ago. His wife had
died, and though he struggled to feed Jasmin and himself, he was just
not able to. He came to the painful conclusion that in order for her to
survive, he needed to give her up. As he handed her over to Rachel, he
said "I have cried my last tear". Needless to say we were all deeply
moved.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">We took many photos there, but we are not allowed to post them online so you will have to wait for us to get back to see those.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Tomorrow, Katia is finishing the
second day of a cake decorating seminar that she is hosting at the guest
house dining area. The cake she is making for the seminar is gigantic –
5 feet wide and 4 feet tall. One of the ladies from the team is helping
Katia with the seminar. Check the photos <a href="http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/behindthewaterfall/Haiti%20May%202012/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank" title="This external link will open in a new window">http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/behindthewaterfall/Haiti%20May%202012/?albumview=slideshow</a> to see a photo of the cake.
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">In the morning we will tour the city
to see the earthquake damage and tent camps. After lunch we will head
over to the Gift of God orphanage to spend some time with the kids and
to participate in their worship service at 5 PM (time changed to work
around the seminar).
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Please keep us in your prayers as we
continue our work here. And speaking of prayers, today Renee was fully
recovered and painted up a storm!
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<span style="font-family: Helvetica,Arial,Verdana;">Dave
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</span></div>Jonathan, Elise, Solveig and Lincoln.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03103135631416311811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-50081861004937821292012-05-26T18:45:00.001-07:002012-05-26T18:45:32.465-07:00Photos from Haiti - by Dave MillerOK well this blog is driving me crazy, I cannot log in plus our wifi is
having problems so I am just going to post my update from yesterday here
quickly before it goes out again. Also I have <a href="http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/behindthewaterfall/Haiti%20May%202012/?albumview=slideshow" target="_blank">uploaded a couple more photos</a>. Photo upload is really slow so we cannot do many. But we will
bring back tons of photos :-).<br />
<br />
Photos:
http://s831.photobucket.com/albums/zz238/behindthewaterfall/Haiti%20May%202012/?albumview=slideshow<br />--------------------<br />We did not have Internet service Friday evening so the last post is delayed, sorry! We'll post about today later...Jonathan, Elise, Solveig and Lincoln.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03103135631416311811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-6527072067614232882012-05-26T18:43:00.004-07:002012-05-26T18:43:36.498-07:00Bonswa from Haiti - by Dave MillerBonswa from Haiti!<br /><br />We
had a great day today (Friday). After Katia's wonderful breakfast we
hopped in a van and a pickup and drove up, up, up to the Rivers of Hope
orphanage to paint, paint, paint. Rivers of Hope is a new orphanage in a
leased home that will be run by Rachel Danache. AGCI will coordinate
adoptions from Rivers of Hope. This video from AGCI explains this
relationship way better than I can: http://vimeo.com/42723806<br /><br />The
house needed a lot of cleanup and painting. We painted all the black
iron work (railings, bars over windows, etc.) as well as some new doors
which needed to be painted. Others on the team also disassembled some
bunk beds and started reconstructing them into cribs.<br /><br />To access
the inside of the bars we had to remove all the glass louvers. We
quickly discovered that each one is custom fit and it can be quite a
puzzle to get them back in if you don't stack them in order. By the end
of the day we had it down to a science. I poked a tiny piece of glass in
my finger while reinstalling a louver which "Doctor" Paul cleaned and
dressed with professionalism and flair. <br />Paul is now the official team medic.<br /><br />Speaking
of medicine, Renee, one of our team members from Nashville was out
today with a stomach bug, but she met us at dinner so hopefully she is
on the mend. Please pray for her continued improvement. Everyone else is
healthy.<br /><br />On the drive up (2 hours) and down (1 hour) we got a
good taste of Haitian commerce. There were people buying and selling the
entire way, thousands of people crammed along the roadside selling
everything among the piles of rubble, trash, and 5 foot deep by 5 foot
wide gutters (with no curbs by the way). Most of the people looked to be
quite poor. <br /><br />The traffic was intense, especially because the
Haitian President was in the area so there were lots of police on ATVs
& SUVs which added greatly to the congestion. Some of the guys rode
in the back of the pickup so they had a very memorable ride. <br /><br />The
Rivers of Hope home is close to the top of the mountain. As you climb
higher, both the vegetation and prosperity change dramatically. We saw
many beautiful flowering trees and vines, and fruit trees were
everywhere. The houses were also much larger.<br /><br />Tomorrow we are
going to finish the painting then head up even higher on the mountain to
one of the Mountaintop Ministry orphanages (another AGCI partner, see
video link above) to spend some time with the babies/kids there and
learn more about what AGCI is doing with Mountaintop Ministries. Willem
and his wife Beth were with us all day today and coordinated the work.<br /><br />Tonight
we talked for a long time with Dan Jensen about the people and country
of Haiti, and the work that God is doing here through the partnerships
between FMI, AGCI, Mountaintop Ministries and others. We can tell you
more about that when we get back.<br /><br />On Sunday we will spend the
entire day at the Gift of God orphanage where the October team served,
first in their church service, then just spending time with them.<br /><br />Well
it looks like our Internet connection is out for now so I will have to
post this in the morning! I probably won't be able to post any photos
until tomorrow night though, sorry! <br /><br />DaveJonathan, Elise, Solveig and Lincoln.http://www.blogger.com/profile/03103135631416311811noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-32723919154789621272012-05-24T17:29:00.000-07:002012-05-24T17:29:04.356-07:00Hit the ground runningToday we arrived in Haiti. After a little delay in getting out of Miami, one of the panels fell out of the ceiling prior to take off, we made it to Port-au-Prince. After a bit of an adventure in baggage claim, where Dave's black bag was lost. Once we discovered that Dave's bag miraculously changed colors during the flight and was now blue, we were able to locate it. We then ran the gauntlet to get to the van and enjoyed a nice ride to the guest house. We had a quick lunch and went over to GOG. What an amazing place! We were greeted by swarms of smiling kids who just simply wanted to hug us and hold our hands. We had a tour of the orphanage and Todd informed us that there have been many changes and upgrades since the last trip. The apartments upstairs are now occupied, and almost complete. The kitchen is almost finished and they now have 3 charcoal heated stoves, and a stainless steel sink. We attempted to do some plumbing to finish the sinks in the apartments and the kitchen but were unable to due to lack of proper parts. So instead we got to spend more time with the kids. The highlights are that they clearly remember their friends from the October trip and were so excited to see the pictures from the last visit. Todd was greeted by his hat being stolen and kids trying to wrestle him and rub his head. Dave was the man of the hour as he was swarmed by kids looking at the pictures from the last trip. He had kids all over him the entire time we were there. It was so clear that these kids love Jesus and they couldn't help but sing about it. I was able to connect with one of Lisa's friends from the last trip, Teddy. Once he discovered who I was, he stole my sunglasses and only wanted to take pictures of himself to send back. They all asked about the October team and wanted to know if they were coming back. God is blessing us so much already with our interactions with the kids. We are heading over to the new orphanage for painting tomorrow. Thank you for your prayers!<br />
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PaulToddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13418560654504587506noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-80410473283292814032012-05-24T14:06:00.000-07:002012-05-24T14:06:19.377-07:00On Their WayThe guys had a long day of travel yesterday to Miami via a layover in Dallas. I spoke to Paul this morning as they waited to board their plane headed to Port au Prince. It sounds like they had a brief but decent night of sleep, along with a nice hot shower. They were due to land at about noon their time and spend the afternoon with our friends at Gift of God Orphanage. He said they'd do their best to write a post tonight. I sure can't wait to hear about their time with those gorgeous kiddos and amazing staff at GOG. <br />
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On the home front (Nicki and Debbie, please feel free to make any additions:), my sick little Emilie is on the mend. My heart was encouraged by this chunk from Psalm 41, brought to my attention by my pal Sara:<br />
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Blessed is he who has regard for the weak;<br />
the Lord delivers him in times of trouble.<br />
The Lord will protect him and preserve his life;<br />
he will bless him in the land<br />
and not surrender him to the desire of his foes.<br />
The Lord will sustain him on his sickbed<br />
and restore him from his bed of illness.<br />
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May God's kingdom be furthered and his name glorified as a result of this trip.Lisahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/04028904465702760356noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-43703984444278069042012-05-12T23:42:00.000-07:002012-05-17T16:59:32.556-07:00T-Minus 10 Days and CountingThe months and weeks since we signed on to this adventure have all slipped by and we are down to the last ten days before we leave. Paul and I have discussed it and we both swear it must be longer away than that. Dave, please tell us we have more time. It's time to spray clothes for mosquitos, pack up our bags, and make sure tickets are ready and that we won't forget our passports.<br />
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If anyone still wishes to help with supplies and donations for the trip, this is the time. There is still a need for diapers and infant formula, teenage boys clothes, painting supplies, art supplies and musical instruments (sorry, no sousaphones). If anyone has anything they want us to bring, we will need it dropped off at Harvest by Sunday, May 20. We are excited, and as for me, a little anxious. I won't speak for Paul or Dave. You can ask them directly. Time does not stop and we ask for your prayers for our final prepartions; material, mental and spiritual. We look forward to our time in Haiti and hope everything comes together smoothly. Thank you for your support. We look forward to continue sharing this adventure with you.Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13418560654504587506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-20528522961322694462012-03-31T22:00:00.001-07:002012-03-31T22:50:44.475-07:00Second verse, (not quite) the same as the first...This Memorial Day weekend, Paul Andrewjeski, Dave Miller and myself (Todd) will be partnering again with AGCI for another exciting adventure to Haiti. I am excited with anticipation for the upcoming trip. This trip is quite different as it is not all Harvest people who have been preparing and getting to know each other for months in advance. I look forward to serving with Paul and Dave, but the group is very large, over 20 people with a couple families from all over the country. The dynamics will be quite different.<br />
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Much of this entry comes from the language supplied for our prayer cards so it may sound very familiar. With that in mind, I would ask for prayer for group unity as we are so diverse and have not had the ability to meet and prepare as a group.<br />
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I would ask for prayer for the logistics. Travel times change, many different travel itineraries, and in country supply considerations. We hope to be able to provide a gift of bibles to the children and would like to make arrangements in Haiti to procure them...more to share about this in the future.<br />
Funds are still a concern. Raising support for the trip and sharing the call with friends and family...funds to purchase the gift bibles for the kids in Haiti.<br />
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We look forward to continue in building relationships with FMI and GOH and their staff, the chance to help build and install Harvest's Christmas gift to the Gift of God Orphanage and potentially have the opportunity to build relationships and improve another local orphanage that will be providing children for adoption to the new Hope City Orphanage from GOH.Toddhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/13418560654504587506noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-11904917243301995262011-10-23T21:50:00.000-07:002011-10-23T21:50:51.257-07:00We're coming home!We can hardly believe our time in Haiti is nearing and end. We have to leave for the airport at 5:30 tomorrow (ahem, <i><b>3:30</b></i> Pacific time!), but we wanted to write a short note to you before we leave. A lot has happened today; attending the orphanage church service, touring the aftermath of the earthquake, saying goodbye to the kids -there is a lot to process. <br />
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<table align="center" cellpadding="0" cellspacing="0" class="tr-caption-container" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><tbody>
<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9drlJaqevCa8LvWC3h6-JrfEmhOYn5S4nQuSKJarpH_b_hXpE8rC8ea6rmfXkYzMqlXUWpt_q6vtcT7FYFT9IQJwi8-Vapg0CayUNeZIq9_6LYcvh4Wl3dw_DZcl5BiAM274qLSJC2Q/s1600/IMG_7328.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9drlJaqevCa8LvWC3h6-JrfEmhOYn5S4nQuSKJarpH_b_hXpE8rC8ea6rmfXkYzMqlXUWpt_q6vtcT7FYFT9IQJwi8-Vapg0CayUNeZIq9_6LYcvh4Wl3dw_DZcl5BiAM274qLSJC2Q/s400/IMG_7328.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The Presidential Palace, completely destroyed by the earthquake.</td></tr>
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJOEhWglpMZADmp_lvuCjqW1RtrdqgkQXp5DNH2gR1K7VIeCS4sQJI5bi0OolAMdlnHcuxd5EPF2Igt8eWgrBLKj4TqNjtBH4PyJLg9oJmXLK7hMkDnmp80KMWpxSXGcA4Mww1kJj3f4/s1600/IMG_7332.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi894ejnbH60YVaIxoec0NpljvfVRqXzacllNASzA6FhV734axLOv1g4199Y5yhCfTbohbQyoeRkRNrAu-Ief71FuJecmkoJ77zug8w0GSd-Ox5I1XYeywf6yE9qDgmhgzkhqpMpahIoaM/s1600/IMG_7323.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi894ejnbH60YVaIxoec0NpljvfVRqXzacllNASzA6FhV734axLOv1g4199Y5yhCfTbohbQyoeRkRNrAu-Ief71FuJecmkoJ77zug8w0GSd-Ox5I1XYeywf6yE9qDgmhgzkhqpMpahIoaM/s400/IMG_7323.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">It looks the same as if the earthquake happened yesterday.</td></tr>
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</div><div style="text-align: center;"> <a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcYQFtA5FhJ1zIcE4IFZUwE8Ch47wAZ_XTITKhALZkg824iZ1uA-aiDsFXUDawNI3SXCQkMDf7HtrIZPl6UUwyEk9lbEpqr49F-1Cg3qCb52i-qHoloEX3svkDhMpE-Xa9rsApKuhDjU/s1600/IMG_7333.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><br />
</a></div>We've been exposed to so many things that we weren't exposed to before - things that are making us think deeply, and pray. <br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcYQFtA5FhJ1zIcE4IFZUwE8Ch47wAZ_XTITKhALZkg824iZ1uA-aiDsFXUDawNI3SXCQkMDf7HtrIZPl6UUwyEk9lbEpqr49F-1Cg3qCb52i-qHoloEX3svkDhMpE-Xa9rsApKuhDjU/s1600/IMG_7333.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEggcYQFtA5FhJ1zIcE4IFZUwE8Ch47wAZ_XTITKhALZkg824iZ1uA-aiDsFXUDawNI3SXCQkMDf7HtrIZPl6UUwyEk9lbEpqr49F-1Cg3qCb52i-qHoloEX3svkDhMpE-Xa9rsApKuhDjU/s400/IMG_7333.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">The churches here don't see a need to help because kids on the streets are "normal" for them.</td></tr>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJOEhWglpMZADmp_lvuCjqW1RtrdqgkQXp5DNH2gR1K7VIeCS4sQJI5bi0OolAMdlnHcuxd5EPF2Igt8eWgrBLKj4TqNjtBH4PyJLg9oJmXLK7hMkDnmp80KMWpxSXGcA4Mww1kJj3f4/s1600/IMG_7332.JPG" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgmJOEhWglpMZADmp_lvuCjqW1RtrdqgkQXp5DNH2gR1K7VIeCS4sQJI5bi0OolAMdlnHcuxd5EPF2Igt8eWgrBLKj4TqNjtBH4PyJLg9oJmXLK7hMkDnmp80KMWpxSXGcA4Mww1kJj3f4/s400/IMG_7332.JPG" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">One of the many vast tent villages, where people are still living after their houses were destroyed in the earthquake.</td></tr>
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju9drlJaqevCa8LvWC3h6-JrfEmhOYn5S4nQuSKJarpH_b_hXpE8rC8ea6rmfXkYzMqlXUWpt_q6vtcT7FYFT9IQJwi8-Vapg0CayUNeZIq9_6LYcvh4Wl3dw_DZcl5BiAM274qLSJC2Q/s1600/IMG_7328.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi894ejnbH60YVaIxoec0NpljvfVRqXzacllNASzA6FhV734axLOv1g4199Y5yhCfTbohbQyoeRkRNrAu-Ief71FuJecmkoJ77zug8w0GSd-Ox5I1XYeywf6yE9qDgmhgzkhqpMpahIoaM/s1600/IMG_7323.JPG" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a> <br />
But we are not in despair because the kids at this orphanage are a <b>BRIGHT</b> <b>LIGHT</b> here in Haiti, and we <i>know</i> there is hope for the future of this country. <br />
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</a></div>We are weary, emotionally and physically, but are very excited to see our families tomorrow. We too are excited to share with all of you in more detail (and in person!) our experiences someday very soon. Thank you for praying for us and we cannot wait to see you!<br />
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Love,<br />
The TeamAlyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-67776940623810384242011-10-22T19:24:00.000-07:002011-10-22T19:24:18.367-07:00Razor wire and guard dogs... ...and silly girls who lock their keys insideOne of the things that has been so cool here is how amazingly secure and well-protected we are. Our contacts on the ground here are taking amazing care of us and being very vigilant about taking every single precaution. Any concerns that we had coming in were totally alleviated once we met up with Dan and Smith at the airport. <div><br />
</div><div>But the reality of this country has definitely been interesting to observe. Every house is within a compound surrounded by cinderblock walls and razor wire, and there are guard dogs released at night just in case someone makes an attempt over the razors. Each day we go in and out a padlocked gate from the guest house and through another one into the orphanage.</div><div><br />
</div><div>One fun thing that happened today was that one of us girls locked the keys to our dorm inside the door. And man, that dorm was built to be impregnable, as we soon found out (a credit card or slim jim was not going to do the trick here!). But it was also a little comforting to see that our host family is serious about safety.</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div><br />
</div><div>...Tomorrow we're getting the pleasure of going to the orphanage's church service and then taking the kids on a field trip to a historical park and the team's going on a tour of the city after. Busy day, better get to bed!</div>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-7346093338233222652011-10-22T19:05:00.000-07:002011-10-22T19:25:42.251-07:00No wonder we're so tired!Some of the things we've done so far:<br />
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We did so much laundry that they had to hang up three more clothes lines in addition to the three they already had up ("and by laundry, imagine Debbi & Nicki crouching over 5 tubs of water, scrubba scrubba scrubba, rinsa rinsa rinsa, and hang them up," -Lisa).<br />
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We made 60 boxes of macaroni and cheese over an open fire with powdered milk and the kids ate over a box a piece.<br />
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Painted lots of little girl nails and sat for lots of manicures (and too bad for you the nail polish remover is coming out tomorrow night before we leave so you won't get to see them! ;)<br />
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A few of us on laundry crew got to use an old-fashioned iron heated with charcoals (that one very tough girl picked up with her bare hands), and spontaneously broke out in song, belting out "Lean on Me," "This Little Light of Mine," and and learning some of their Creole songs.<br />
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We nailed bracer panels onto 14 bunk beds.<br />
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Got 52 fabric paint handprints.<br />
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Some of us built a divider wall in the girls dorm ("and by dorm we mean cinderblock rooms with concrete floors and bunk-beds crammed side by side" - Lisa)<br />
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We made millions of friendship bracelets.<br />
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We taught 5 piano lessons on a keyboard drawn on paper.<br />
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Took lots of video and pictures.<br />
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Helped the kids decorate 52 picture frames.<br />
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Ate LOTS and LOTS of amazing food (we've been showered with affection by Katia & Smith, the Haitian orphanage directors here).<br />
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Visited and prayed over the new orphanage.<br />
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Sewed frogs (and frantically tried to manage the needles!)<br />
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Painted two ceilings.<br />
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Popped 52 bags of popcorn.<br />
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Watched a movie where the kids didn't mind or complain AT ALL about the long wait to set up the projector, or it being in English, or having to stop it 1/3 of the way through when the generator went out.<br />
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Toured the bakery that where the kids are being taught to keep a job and earn income for themselves.<br />
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Put on lots of bug repellant.<br />
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Taken 27 showers half on the floor (the water pressure here's a little low...)<br />
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And MOST importantly, all the while:<br />
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Playing with, cuddling, teaching, holding, playing basketball and soccer with, dancing, singing, snuggling, rocking, laughing with, being taught by, and LOVING 52 beautiful, wonderful, amazing children who love Jesus with all their hearts.<br />
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-The TeamAlyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-51669529495718452202011-10-21T11:46:00.000-07:002011-10-21T11:46:54.286-07:00Frantz<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHYnaE_f9V_F8nikj8eZmWUqbaFdtnh2BSgPcj8oJ0R6pknS4V9zVbW0ePRAbGg_RVIoyJBosPHqsLh1lLXCkwXUUA9dL-bguYFxVPiYisiWbWp1l0NaxF604xj4sBcHVl4-kni9gue8/s1600/IMG_6546.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="213" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEidHYnaE_f9V_F8nikj8eZmWUqbaFdtnh2BSgPcj8oJ0R6pknS4V9zVbW0ePRAbGg_RVIoyJBosPHqsLh1lLXCkwXUUA9dL-bguYFxVPiYisiWbWp1l0NaxF604xj4sBcHVl4-kni9gue8/s320/IMG_6546.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<br />
His mom is dead. His dad abandoned him at a hospital 4-5 months ago. The people at Gift of God Orphanage found him in his bed about a month ago, not certain of whether or not he had been held or even touched over the course of his life. They think he has cerebral palsy, but he hasn't been officially evaluated. He is receiving therapy, especially for his wrist. He is responding well. <br />
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We found him in his crib, and proceeded to pass him around though out the morning. He's about as big as Emilie and Elina. Right now he's the youngest resident at Gift of God - the hope is that if all works out from a legal standpoint he will be the first official resident at the new home they're currently building and be available for adoption someday. We'll do our best to love him well, touch him as much as possible, and pray God's grace in his life.Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-4554780543282357772011-10-20T19:18:00.000-07:002011-10-20T19:34:45.839-07:00We made it! - by Alyssa<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well dear friends and family, we are in Haiti! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We arrived this afternoon after 3 flights and one very long layover. I have already been amazed by God and things that he has been showing me along the way. I have seen His beauty and promising consistency in last night's sunset, this morning's sunrise and the lightning, thunder and rain tonight. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Miami was a very unfortunate experience for me because I was feeling sick and so disappointed that it was happening on the way to Haiti instead of on the way back! But it drove me to constant and desperate prayer, proving again in a simple way how much we need God in everyday life. I was well taken care of by my travel buddies and soon after we boarded our plane to Port-au-Prince, God poured out His grace on me and I felt much better and have since! </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We met Dan, the founder of Faith Missions International, at the airport and already we have learned so much from him about Haiti as a country, Haitians, the orphanage and his heart for the orphans here. Upon arriving at the guest house where we are staying, we met Smith and Katia, the directors of Gift of God Orphanage and essentially the mom and dad to all 52 kids there. I loved hearing their stories and I so look forward to spending the next few days with them. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are all wiped out and definitely ready for some sleep tonight! We haven't met any of the kids yet, but so far it's been an incredible experience spending time bonding with my team members and hearing the background story on FMI and GOG and getting to know our new friends. I so look forward to tomorrow. I can't wait to see what God has in store for this little group that has answered a calling to Haiti. I hope it is more than we can even imagine. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we can ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ephesians 3:20-21</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">-Alyssa</span>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-66670930361288102492011-10-19T00:08:00.000-07:002011-10-19T00:08:04.452-07:00It Takes A VillageWe haven't stepped foot on an airplane, yet I am flat-on-my-face overwhelmed by the way God works in and through people to do his good work. Here are just a few ways he has already shown up big as we get ready to put feet to words this week in Haiti...<br />
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First of all, I have had the opportunity to talk to so many people about this trip, Ella's school friends' parents, family, friends, Paul's co-workers. The list goes on. And with such talk comes really pretty phenomenal responses. I mean, there's the sweet first-grader friend of Ella's who saved her very own twenty-two dollars to buy paint supplies to refurbish the girls dorm at Gift of God Orphanage. <br />
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Or how about my college roommate's Grammy who JOYFULLY agreed to bust out a BEAUTIFUL quilt for the kiddos in Haiti in just a week?! <br />
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</div>And the kiddos, toddler to teen, who stamped their own print to show that they could care about something beyond themselves.<br />
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Then there's the mom who took her kids shopping for diapers for dear twenty-two-month-old Frantz, a real life lesson of just what we have here in the U.S. Or, my neighbor who brought stuff to sell at a garage sale to help with our expenses. Then there are the friends and family who have written checks and offered up prayer and encouragement time and again these past weeks as we prepare.<br />
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Of course we can't forget Brad the plumber, from right here in Camas, whom none of us has met. But, he just happened to have a passport, and happened to be able to get free this week (with days notice) to work on the new home and admin center being built in Port au Prince.<br />
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There are the beautiful conversations we've had with our own kids about what the heck we're doing for these few days so far away...Lindsay's talk with her babes about why the little ones in places like we're going don't have shoes...watching them "play orphanage" or pretend to fly on a plane to Haiti to help the kids who don't have mamas or daddies. Really the list goes on and on. <br />
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And, that first tiny step hasn't really been taken yet. What in heaven's name have we in store for ourselves? Looking forward to God's good work this week!<br />
LisaAlyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-76517297214011305692011-10-18T22:54:00.000-07:002011-10-18T22:59:14.388-07:00Our bags are packed, we're ready to go (well, hopefully!) - by Elise StricklandAs I put my kids to bed earlier tonight, I couldn't help almost ominously think, "This is the last time I'm putting them to bed until we leave!" And then as I hear them upstairs in their room right now, both throwing fits and egging each other on as Jon steadily disciplines them (and the cats, who seem to know when we're already spread thin and join in on the misbehaving), it doesn't seem so bad - but ask me again at the airport tomorrow!<br />
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Over the course of the months leading up to this mission we've all as a team put a lot of prayer into our planning. As we finish our last minute preparations tonight and tomorrow, I thought I'd share with you the team's most recent prayer requests:<br />
<br />
<b>Lisa Andrewjeski</b><br />
*Organizational/mental preparation<br />
*Freedom from guilt, especially leaving my girls on Emilie's birthday<br />
*Paul and the girls while I am gone<br />
*That God would reveal and provide direction for His plan for Harvest as it pertains to global orphan care. I am walking in baby steps of obedience. I need prayer to fully trust God in this.<br />
<br />
<b>Alyssa Higginson</b><br />
*That the team would be unified in training, praying and sharing our hearts.<br />
*That I would be teachable<br />
*That I would go without expectations, knowing God can and will work for His glory.<br />
*That Haitian people will be receptive of our love and help<br />
*No fatigue before/during<br />
*That my heart, mind, thoughts and prayers would be focused on God's will and purpose<br />
*That I would serve without reservations and rely on the Spirit<br />
*That the will of God would be done and His kingdom would be advanced <b> </b><br />
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<b>Elise Strickland</b><br />
*Protection from malaria, since I can't take the preventative medication while I'm nursing<br />
*Solveig and Lincoln, here with my parents and brothers, pray against guilt and for strength for me in that, and for Solveig and Lincoln (who is still nursing) while they're away from us. Please also pray for my parents that everything goes as calmly as possible while they take care of two babies full-time.<br />
*For clarity and peace during our trip, that details come together in a smooth way so that this trip can be as impactful as possible in its short length.<br />
*That we as a team remain thoughtful and intentional about our actions on this trip and that everything we do is God-centered.<br />
*That God will keep me sensitive and aware in both my preparations and during the trip so that I am careful not to unintentionally offend.<br />
*Pray against despair and feeling overwhelmed.<br />
*That we can be empowered and hopeful in God's work so that we can bring that determination back home with us to share with the rest of our church<br />
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<b>Katie Bafus</b><br />
*That I would be a light to the people in Haiti<br />
<b> </b>*Fear that I would do something to offend someone<br />
*Good health, that I wouldn't get sick in Haiti<br />
*Strength, we will be busy - I don't want to burn out<br />
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<b>Todd Jay</b><br />
*For my family; our kids will be without both parents for the first time, pray for the worrying parents who aren't there with them.<br />
<b> </b>*For the team; safety, unity and flexibility, please pray for the attitudes of each member, may we all be gracious with each other and conscious that any inconveniences are temporary<br />
*That the Lord will work in each of our lives<br />
*That He will change our hearts to be more like His, we would be willing to let Him transform us, and that we would appreciate this opportunity to touch and love others like our Lord does.<br />
<br />
<b>Jessamine Miller</b><br />
*That the trip will have an impact on me<br />
*For my heart to be prepared<br />
*That we will all stay healthy<br />
*That the trip won't cause me any stress for missing school and having to do make-up work<br />
<br />
<b>Jonathan Strickland</b><br />
*That God might be able to use me in an effective way<br />
<b> </b>*That the jobs they need us to do meet our skill sets<br />
*That I will be encouraged about what God is doing in Haiti through spending time with the kids there and that the people in Haiti will be receptive to meeting us<br />
*For health and safety, that my wife and I will be protected from illness in our travels<br />
*That Solveig and Lincoln will have peace and calm while they're away from us, not miss us too much, and be well-behaved<br />
*That my view of the world might be broadened and my eyes opened to mission possibilities in Haiti<br />
*That we come back with a story to tell that is God's story not ours<br />
*Pray that the school I'll be missing won't harm me and that my professors will be understanding<br />
<br />
<b>Debbie Miller</b><br />
*To stay healthy and not have any bad affects from my MS during the trip<br />
*To be bold as I share with non-Christian friends about this trip<br />
*To be open to however God wants to use me on the trip<br />
<br />
<b>Sara Pirolo</b><br />
*For strength and grace to love and serve in whatever capacity is needed, even if it is an area outside of my comfort zone<br />
*That the kids and Haitian staff members would feel encouraged and blessed by our presence there<br />
*For eyes to see what God is doing in Haiti<b> </b>and for inspiration to know how our family and/or Harvest can join in this movement in the future<br />
*For my own growth in Christ that this experience would bring me closer to God's heart for orphans and the poor<br />
*For health and safety for myself and my family at home, likewise for the rest of the team and family members here<br />
*For my family while I'm away, that David and Elina would have a special time being together<br />
<br />
<b>Pastor Gary Smith</b><br />
*That God and Christ's gospel would be glorified<b> </b>through our presence and ministry in Haiti<br />
*That our team would maintain the unity of the Spirit and the bond of peace<br />
*That our team would exhibit the Fruit of the Spirit, love, joy, peace...<br />
*That our team would be good learners and humble servants of Christ<br />
*That we would effectively encourage the worker and love the orphans<br />
*That I will have God's heart and discernment to see what He wants me to see<br />
*That I would make kingdom connections<br />
*That Rachel and I will grow in Christ and in our relationship<br />
*That God will be with Patty, Alex, and Emily while we're away<br />
<br />
<b>Lindsay Goostree</b><br />
*Please pray that I would see, experience and learn all that God has in store for me while in Haiti<br />
<b> </b>*Please pray for safe travels and good health<br />
*Please pray for me as I will be so far away from my sweet Kaden and Raegan, I know they will have wonderful times and create memories with Daddy<br />
*Please pray for our team from Harvest that we will be usable and touched by the Holy Spirit while in Haiti<br />
<br />
<b>Rachel Smith</b><br />
*Preparation and readiness, the fact that I'm going to Haiti soon isn't quite getting to me yet, and I feel like that may need to happen soon so I can be ready and not have this trip feel sprung on me<br />
<br />
<b>Nicki Jay</b><br />
*For our kiddos to be at peace while Mom and Dad are away<br />
<b> </b>*Team unity<br />
*That God will stir hearts at home as well as in the team<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
Would you please pray for us?<br />
<br />
Oh, and now Solveig and Lincoln are both sleeping peacefully, and I miss them already!Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-5229017964073162222.post-43071510138890312422011-10-18T22:51:00.000-07:002011-10-18T22:51:56.588-07:00A little about our trip before we go<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Since I imagine we won't be spending a lot of time online during the short time we are in Haiti, I thought I would share a little more about what we are hoping to do while there, and some prayer points. These past months of preparation have flown by, and it seems pretty surreal, to me at least, that we are actually leaving tomorrow! A huge thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged us this far in the process, whatever your means of support has been – financial, prayer, car wash customer <span style="font-family: Wingdings;">J</span>. This has been a humbling and faith-building experience even to this point. I'm excited to see how God continues to move in our hearts and in Haiti. </span></div><br />
<div class="MsoNormal" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">While we hope to remain flexible in how we spend our time in the country, we do have some tentative plans for how we will be serving the kids and staff at Gift of God Orphanage (run by Faith Missions International). While there, we will likely be doing a couple work projects like painting and building a wall partition, as well as spending time with the kids. We also will be giving the orphanage staff some time off and serving the kids an American meal of Mac & Cheese (which apparently they love, but don’t get often due to how expensive it is in Haiti). We may even do some laundry for the staff, which I imagine they have a lot of (52 pairs of socks, pants, shirts, yikes!) I love that we get to bless the orphanage staff, who care for these kiddos day in and out, and give them a well deserved break. For those who haven't heard this already, this orphanage is for school age kids (5 years +), who likely will never be adopted – as most adoptive parents are looking at infants and toddlers. Thus, the staff at the orphanage is really focused on training these kids up into mature, contributing members of the Haitian culture – hopefully a new generation of Jesus following leaders. However, they did just take in a little guy named Franz (?), who is about 2 years old, so we'll also be bringing some supplies like diapers that they have need of. We’ll also be visiting the site of a new orphanage that is being built by All God’s Children International. And, just in the last couple weeks, a new member has been added to our team, due to an urgent need on the part of AGCI for some plumbing work to be done at the new site. Praise God that this man was available , equipped with the right skills, and able to basically drop everything and join our team at the last minute!</span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Here are some other specific ways that you can be praying:</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <o:p> </o:p></span><br />
<div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- For strength and grace to love and serve in whatever capacity is needed; unity and flexibility as a team. </span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- That the kids and Haitian staff members would feel encouraged and blessed by our presence there; that we would be able to meet specific needs.</span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- For eyes to see what God is doing in Haiti, and for inspiration to know how we as individuals, families and a church can join in this movement in the future.</span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- For our own growth in Christ, that this experience would bring each individual closer to God's heart for orphans and the poor. </span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- As one team member said, that we would come back with a story to tell that is God's story, not ours. </span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- For health and safety for the team while traveling and while in Haiti. Specifically we have a couple nursing moms who aren't able to take the meds for malaria, and we have 1 team member with a medical condition that will need to take extra care. </span></span></div><div class="MsoPlainText" style="margin: 0in 0in 0pt;"><span style="font-family: "Calibri","sans-serif";"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- For family members here at home who we will be leaving behind. Several of our team members are young moms and/or dads who will be leaving young kids with spouses or grandparents. Pray that this would be a sweet time for those at home, and pray for extra strength for all the great dads and grandparents who are taking on extra responsibility so we can go! And pray for those of us leaving behind little ones, that we would not worry, but rest in God's peace. </span></span></div><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We look forward to sharing more as this story continues to unfold. Thank you all so much for being part of this journey!</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Sara, for the Haiti team</span>Alyssahttp://www.blogger.com/profile/09624847446470539501noreply@blogger.com0